OXFORD -- Mainstreet Manager Dave Haradon set out to give the borough a Christmas extravaganza for his first year on the job, and as far as the people who celebrated the season on Friday night were concerned, he succeeded.

Third Avenue, the main commercial byway in the borough, was closed off to vehicle traffic from 4 p.m. to late evening, making room for vendors, dancers, singers, hayrides, the lighting of the town tree and the arrival of Santa Claus.

In anticipation of the arrival of the carriage that would bring Santa, people crowded around the town tree and joined in Christmas songs being led from the stage.

Following hymns by the Shephard’s Choir, the KMC Dance Illuminations Performance Company skipped out, arms raised high, formed a double line and heralded in Santa and his wife, Bill and Elsie Ringle. The couple climbed to the stage and watched as the group did some high kicking to songs of the season.

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Then as the dancers completed their performance, voila!, the switch was pulled and the tree was ablaze with lights.

Henry then addressed the crowd and said, “I wish every Friday night was like this.”

But the evening was more than a tree lighting and a chance to talk to Santa -- much more.

Shortly after 5 p.m., Dan Paisley and the Southern Grass played their country music under a tent in Hippie Jane’s parking lot.

All along the road were vendors and volunteers eager to sell refreshments.

Meanwhile, the Oxford Arts Alliance was selling hand crafted gifts, and they sweetened the customers’ visit with violin-plus-guitar music.

All evening, visitors participated in a scavenger hunt that involved tracking down signs of the 12 Days of Christmas in the local stores. Once they found them and filled out a form, they were given tickets to drop in cups which represented gift baskets they hoped to win. A survey of the tickets later in the evening showed that the most popular baskets being sought after were for wine and children’s toys.

There were many visitors from Oxford, but quite a few from out of town.

Geraldine Rowlison from New York City was visiting her daughter, Oxford native Leslie Blum. Rowlinson said she was so impressed that “The tree is better than the one in the city.”

For Blum, the music and the ability to walk around on the closed off street were drawing cards. Like her mother, she endorsed the evening mightily. “It’s getting better every year,” she said.

For many, the fact that the street was closed was one of the best things. Brownie leader Heather Beckson said this was the first year her girls didn’t have to dodge traffic from their goodies table.

A big draw also was the rides. At least two wagons and a carriage carried people around town. The rides were free, but riders were required to pick up free tickets ahead of time.

Mary Barringer, who, with Haradon oversaw the event, was making the rounds of the events throughout the evening. When she was asked how things were going, she as first said, “So many things are going on.”

On second thought, she admitted that things were running smoothly. “I’m glad we closed the street,” she said, and then added, “A lot of people are responding to the scavenger hunt.”

About the Author

Chris Barber is the zone editor of the Avon Grove Sun. She is a lifelong resident of Kennett Square and a graduate of Unionville High School and Carleton College majoring in religion and minoring in astronomy. She is the founder of the Kennett Area YMCA. Reach the author at cbarber@21st-centurymedia.com
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